Discover Life In and Around Oklahoma City

Great Real Estate Photography - A Listing Agent's Responsibility

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:16:16 -0700

One of my colleagues, another local agent, brought up an interesting conversation on Facebook earlier today, and since I'm always up for the opportunity to educate others on something I believe in, here we go. She said: "OK for all you realtors using this fancy new photography!-It is an illusion and it makes the house look way better than it does in person! It is deceiving and disappointing when you get there! I would rather have the real thing and not waste my time…." Some of the replies from other agents went as far as accusing agents who employ "fancy new photography" of "masking defects." Here's the deal. As a specialized listing agent, my sole responsibility is to sell my clients' homes. Quickly. 3 things make that happen: Pricing them correctlyMarketing them well Insuring that they show well and often (staging) If one of those things is off, the house simply won't sell as quickly as it should. The longer a house takes to sell, the less it will sell for. Common sense, right? I won't go into the pricing or the staging right now. Those are conversations for another day, but let's talk photography. I guess the question is, is there something wrong, deceiving, or misleading in hiring a stand-out photographer to create incredible, colorful, jump-off-the-page photos of your house? The short answer is that there's a fine line that must be adhered to. NO agent should EVER photoshop material facts of a property (i.e. removing power lines, adding double-ovens, or hiding material defects). The longer answer is that EVERY listing agent has a duty to their client to present their home in the best possible light and get it SOLD! After all, what do you hire a listing agent for? It's not for their brilliant personality, right? It's because you need an expert at marketing homes. If not, you'd do it yourself, wouldn't you? Ask yourself this. The last time you saw a Braums commercial late at night, showing that luscious ice-cream sunday, hopped in the car, and raced up there to get one before they closed, did it look as amazing and perfect as the one you saw on TV? Or how about that burger you bought last week? Or the last time you bought a new car, was it as fast, shiny, and sexy as the one in the magazine? The last time you drank Bud Light, did it make you instantly popular and attractive to the opposite sex? Well, OK, maybe that one works as advertised. The point is, those advertisements are designed to SELL sundays, burgers, cars, beer, etc. Shouldn't your real estate agent be making the same efforts to SELL your home? If your agent is not a MARKETER, you've hired the wrong person. FACT: More than 90% of home buyers start their home search online. Half of the challenge is getting those online shoppers through your door. One of the most common complaints agents hear from home buyers is that the listings online don't show enough of the house. They say things like:"Why are there no pictures of the back yard?" "Why are there only 3 photos?" "Why does that picture only show the bed? I can't tell how big the room is." "There are no pictures of the inside, so it must be a wreck." "The photos are so dark, I can't tell what room that even is." "Is that carpet old, or just dirty?" You get the point. Buyers want to see lots of clear, colorful pictures. If they don't, they'll cross your house off the list.Still doubt? Here's what I know from cold, hard experience:My listings used to sell at an average of 38 days on the market. When I first hired my current photographer, the showings on my listings tripled. The listings for which I've hired stand-out photographers have sold in an average of 9 days on the market. Plain and simple, more showings mean quicker sales, and quicker sales mean higher SOLD prices. There's only one other way to sell a house quickly. Grossly under-price it. Which method would you prefer? Now it's your turn. Whether you're a home seller, a home buyer, or an agent, do you agree or disagree?**Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

How Do I Know If Realtor® XYZ Really Gets Results?

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 06:03:08 -0700

If you've talked with many real estate agents, you've already found that there's no shortage of "Best of" and "Top Producer" claims, but statistics & awards mean nothing if they're not results-based. Truth is, the vast majority of those titles aren't certified in any way, so how can you really tell who gets the job done and who just claims they do? When you're looking for a great listing agent, one of the best ways is to ask each agent to provide PROOF of their results. They can show you reports, live in the MLS, which track how many homes they've listed, how many of those sold, how long they took to sell, and how close to the list price they sold. REMINDER: Be sure they show you their EXPIRED listings also, not just the ones that sold. With information like that, you can make an informed decision about whether you want an agent who works with more buyers than sellers, an agent who lists a ton of homes every year and sells 50% to 75% of them, or an agent who specializes in listing and marketing and sells 100% of their listings. Insist that they pull up their statistics live in the MLS while they're sitting with you, so you can be sure they're only pulling up their listings, and not their buyer-side sales. If an agent is reluctant to do so, you should probably run. FAST! We believe in giving you real data to base your decisions on, so when we meet with you, we'll be happy to pull up live reports. In the meantime, you can review the reports we ran on April 23rd, 2012: Listings Performance Report - 4/23/12 Expired Listings Report - 4/23/12 **Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Oklahoma City Remembers

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:10:59 -0700

April 19th, 1995. It's one of those days that sticks in your soul forever; especially for those of us who have called Oklahoma City home for at least a couple of decades. We all remember vividly where we were and what we were doing when it happened. Most of us felt the concussion, no matter where we were in the metro. I was in the Village (9 miles away), doing some paint & preparation work on the first house I ever bought, getting it ready to move myself and my kids in. It also happened to be my daughter's first birthday. I hadn't moved anything in yet, so there was no TV or radio. I had just finished rolling a coat of paint in the kitchen and was leaning against the countertop, drinking a glass of water, and admiring my masterfully-painted (yeah right) walls when, all of a sudden, they shook and vibrated as I watched them move in & out what seemed like a few inches. My first thought was "Great, I bought a house that has a major problem. What the heck would cause the walls to move?" My next thought was that an airplane had crashed nearby, so I went out front and looked around for smoke. There was none from my vantage point. The little old lady who lived next door had come out to look around also and told me what they were saying on TV. An explosion downtown? Surely not terrorism in Oklahoma! To say it was an awful day, and awful weeks to come would be the biggest understatement of the century, but what we all saw as a result was a city that came together and decided we weren't going to let this horrific incident scare us into submission. We wouldn't let it get us down, but we would instead turn it into a catapult for the positive. Since that terrible day in our state's history, this great city that I love so much has not only recovered, but has grown. That one event put us "on the map" in the mind of the rest of the country, and we've taken that momentum to do great things. That's undeniable. Every year, I'm reminded of the OKC bombing, not because of the news coverage, but because it's my amazing daughter's birthday. Today, we're celebrating her move into adulthood with her 18th, which reminds me that it's been 17 years since our city first wept. Where were you on April 19th, 1995? Share your story in the comments below. **Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

“Thunder Your Butts Off” Gets Thunder Employee's Butt Fired?

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 04:59:19 -0700

According to ProBasketballTalk, a Thunder employee just got fired for publishing this video:Here at ShowMeOKC, we're HUGE fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and while this video may not be the most remarkable production we've seen, we can certainly appreciate the passion these guys showed in putting it together. So, why would the one guy get fired? Was it because they found it offensive? If so, someone's overly-sensitive. I'd assume it's simply because the Thunder organization is protecting their licensing rights, but can an employee not also be a die-hard fan? If this person wasn't employed by the Thunder, and hadn't signed a contract with the organization, is there anything they could've done to him? And even if the organization has the right to fire him, was it the right move?I tell my kids and my clients all the time, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."I know that if I had an employee or client this passionate about my organization, I'd be THRILLED to see them telling everyone they know, in any medium they choose. What say you? Should this guy have been fired for simply showing his passion for the team/organization for which he worked?**Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

What's it Like to Live in Downtown OKC?

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 04:31:06 -0800

Just the other day, I posted up a video highlighting the most expensive home in downtown Oklahoma City, but you know there are more affordable options, right?My video guy and I recently (just a few weeks ago) had a discussion about creating an amazing video showing off what it's really like to live in downtown Oklahoma City, but it looks like maybe we missed the boat (at least for now). Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc just released the incredible video you see below, highlighting some of downtown OKC's hotspots, what it's like to live here, and even interviewed residents, giving a real insight from those in the know. They did an outstanding job of really capturing the vibe, so go check it out, and share it with everyone you know who's ever thought about living in Bricktown, Midtown, the Plaza District, Film Row, the Business District, Automobile Alley, Deep Deuce, Park Plaza, or anywhere else downtown.**Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

"I Don't Take Referrals!" - Good or Bad?

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:59:41 -0800

I just read Peggy Chirico's post "I Don't Take Referrals!" and I must say, I'm amazed at how quickly many of the commenters there have jumped on an agent who chose not to accept a referral, calling him names without knowing his circumstances, all while claiming "I never turn down a referral!" Is it possible that the agent in question has a business plan that he's committed to, that works for him, that doesn't include paying out referral fees? Maybe he's got enough business that he's happy, and he's not interested in growing anymore? I can tell you that personally I do take referrals, but I'm choosy. I only take the ones that actually stand to compensate me for my time and experience. I will not take referrals that end up draining my resources (time & money). I've had agents call me to refer an $80,000 listing, expecting a 40% referral fee. If I were to take such a referral, I'd spend more money to market that property than I would gross after the referral, broker split, and taxes. That's not even taking into account the time I'd have invested in getting it sold. In the time I would've spent on that resource-drainer, I would instead work my client base and generat 2-3 other full-commission transactions. I also recently had a local agent try to refer me a referral, if that makes any sense. By the time all was said and done, I would've ended up paying 2 referral fees, totaling 50% of the commission. Again, not worth my time. Many facctors have to be considered when deciding whether or not to accept a referral; referral fee, sales price, how needy the client is, current market conditions, your hourly rate, etc. When I was a new agent, without much already going on, I was much more willing to take on referrals, and when the market slows, I become more open to them as well. But when the market's cruising along well, and I have a pipeline full of full-commission clients, why would I take time away from them to make less working with someone else? Any agent who's not taking these things into account, but instead just jumping up and yelling "YES" when they're asked if they'd like a referral, may need to re-think their business plan. Not ALL business is profitable business. Many times, the referring agent may be well-intentioned, but actually harm the client by restricting the receiving agent with hefty referral fees. Personally, if it comes down to it, I'd rather not receive a fee and know that my client is getting a top-notch experience, than to take a referral fee and know that the receiving agent may not put forth as much effort, due to a minimized commission. So, what say you? Are all referrals to be taken?

OKC's Report Card on Economic Security

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:08:57 -0800

Report card time's always a little unnerving isn't it? Will I be at the top, the bottom, or somewhere around average? What grade do you think our great city would earn? Better question; would you be at all surprised to find out that Oklahoma City got an A+ and ranked first out of the Top 100 Metros? I know I'm not surprised, but somehow, some folks still seem to miss just how great we have it here. According to MetroTrends.org, Metropolitan Oklahoma City’s diverse economy – including government, universities, energy, and high-tech firms -- has held up well in the Great Recession. It didn’t fall victim to the housing boom and bust (2000 to 2007), so rents and house prices today are remarkably affordable and few homeowners are facing foreclosure. And the region scores high on lots of “top ten” lists -- most affordable (Forbes), most recession-proof (Forbes), and best to start a small business (Fortune Small Business). Click through to see the entire ranking of the Top 100 Metros.**Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Home Maintenance #7 - Weatherstripping

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:23:18 -0800

In Oklahoma, it's generally pretty easy to tell if your home is drafty, but even if you don't feel drafts, you could still be wasting energy.Try this quick test: Close one of your outside doors on a sheet of paper. If the paper pulls out fairly easily and doesn't tear, you're likely losing energy. You can also use the old candle or lighter test. Move a lit candle around your doors and windows (be very careful not to burn yourself) and see if that flame flickers. Either test works, but that's real money leaking out between those gaps, so hurry and do something about it! if you need contractor recommendations, let us know, or if you plan to do the work yourself, here are a few how-to tips: **Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

OKC - Best Place for Military Retirees

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:08:15 -0800

According to a recent USATODAY.com article, Oklahoma City is the best place for former soldiers to find civilian careers. The article states, "as the Iraq War winds down by year's end, tens of thousands of servicemembers are expected to return home, and many will seek second careers amid a sluggish economy and 9% unemployment." That said, we're proud to see Oklahoma City recognized as the top place for these honored veterans to plant their feet when returning home: Oklahoma City is the best place for military retirees to find work, according to a ranking of 379 metro areas by Military.com and USAA, a financial service provider to military personnel.

Boeing Moves More Jobs to OKC

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:37:06 -0800

More exciting news for the Oklahoma City economy, as Boeing announces that they'll be moving more well-paid employees here from Wichita Kansas, by late 2013! **Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Castle Rock - 633 E Hillcrest Ln

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:27:15 -0800

This home is perfect in every way, move-in ready, and better than new, with blinds, full fencing, and landscaping! Located on a large corner lot, you'll have plenty of space to do as you please. Here are a few of the details: 4 Nice-sized Bedrooms 2 Full Bathrooms with upgraded tile Large Eat-in Kitchen, which flows nicely with the living space Pantry & Breakfast Bar Large Covered-patios, front and back 2-car garage Fenced Backyard Additionally, the Castle Rock Community offers: Close proximity to Hwy 4 & Hwy 152, providing quick access to anywhere in the city Mustang Public Schools (Mustang Elementary, Mustang Middle School, Mustang High School) LIST PRICE: $138,000 | MLS# 474145 Call 405.259.6565 or email us to schedule your private tour. NOTE: If this home doesn't fit your needs, we can give you direct access to the most up-to-date listings for this area. Just click here and tell us what you're looking for. It's really that simple.**Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

#okcW3 - Opening Night & Myriad Gardens

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:44:12 -0800

It's time for this month's ShowMeOKC W3! Have you been to Oklahoma City's Myriad Botanical Gardens lately? Do you have plans for New Years Eve? Even though it's winter and the greens aren't green right now, if you answered "no" to either of the above, you've gotta check this out (go fullscreen to get the HD vibe):**Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Home Maintenance Tip #5 - Hot Water

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 06:51:16 -0800

It may seem like a no-brainer, but when it's cold outside, your hot water heater has to work harder to heat your water. It also has to re-heat it more often, but did you know that you may be able to boost your water heater's efficiency by simply wrapping it in a thermal blanket? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, adding an insulating wrap to your water heater can reduce heat loss by as much as 45 percent and save as much as 10 percent on water heating costs. If you're not sure whether or not your water heater needs a wrap, give your tank the "touch test." Tanks that are warm to the touch are losing too much heat and could benefit from additional insulation. Here's the beauty; Thermal blankets are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at most hardware stores. Check out this great little how-to video to learn more: **Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

#okcW3 – Block Party OKC 2011

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:01:39 -0800

It's time for this month's ShowMeOKC W3! Have you heard of Block Party OKC? Oklahoma City Educare? How about the Exchange?If you answered "no" to any of the above, you've gotta check this out (go fullscreen to get the HD vibe):**Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Coffee Creek - 3217 Sand Plum Ln

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:57:50 -0700

[Click Photo to See More]This beautiful home in the Prairie Village at Coffee Creek addition of Edmond, sits on a well-landscaped corner lot and is move-in ready!If you're looking for a great home in a great neighborhood, near all that Edmond has to offer, this one is a must-see: 3 Bedrooms 2 BathroomsStudy or 2nd Living 2 Dining Rooms 2,050sf MOL Fresh Paint, open floorplan, covered patio and moreClose proximity (walking distance) to Mitch Park, Cheyenne Middle School, and the Coffee Creek community poolAdditionally, the Coffee Creek Community offers:Edmond Public Schools (John Ross Elem, Cheyenne MS, Edmond North HS)Immaculately-maintained facilities ClubhousesBasketball CourtsSwimming PoolsPlaygroundsDirect access to Edmond's Mitch ParkJogging Trails18-hole, Par 70 Golf Course LIST PRICE: $190,000 ($92.68/sf)Call 405.259.6565 or email us to schedule your private tour. NOTE: If this home doesn't fit your needs, we can give you direct access to the most up-to-date listings for this area. Just click here and tell us what you're looking for. It's really that simple.**Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Let's Talk Kitchen Design With Roger Shollmier

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Tue, 31 May 2011 18:15:33 -0700

As an active listing Realtor, I'm constantly reminded of just how important the kitchen is to a home's value. Afterall, it has become THE most popular room in the home, and the hub of the family's living.I recently had the chance to visit with Roger Shollmier, owner of KitchenDesign.com and creator of the Galley Sink, about kitchen design, function and workflow.Be ready to have your eyes opened to concepts you may have never considered, as I did. Enjoy!**Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Piedmont Tornado Damage 05/24/2011

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:01:07 -0700

Yesterday, we closed our office so that we could be out & about, helping the folks devasated by Tuesday's tornadoes. As was expected, it was an emotionally exhausting day, as we saw and heard one story after another of that tragic day.Here are a few of the photos we took, which don't even do justice to the long-term damage and loss that these folks have experienced. Please keep them in your prayers, and continue to donate your resources to help them get back on their feet. **Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Selling Your Home - The Good and the Bad

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:34:31 -0700

Let's be honest; to say the past 6 months (or more) as a listing agent in the Oklahoma City metro has been sketchy and unpredictable would be grossly understating reality. In turn, this means that being a home seller in Central Oklahoma has been, well, sketchy and unpredictable.The numbers (the statistics) don't lie. We've seen the number of homes sold in the metro take a pretty consistent dive but, surprisingly, home values haven't taken the same dramatic dive. Sure, they've softened in some areas, but overall the median home value has stayed pretty level.So what's the real key to selling a home in this market? I'll give you a hint. It starts with a P. No, it's not pricing (although always critically important).It's Patience. Take a look at this:The chart you just saw is your visual wake-up call. It's the fact that none of us want to face, but fact nonetheless. Homes are taking longer to sell than they were this time last year, and not just a little bit longer; almost a whopping 19% longer. Instead of 85 days on the market last February, this February's average was 101 days on the market.The real eye-opener is that this is the highest DOM average on this chart, dating back to January 2007, when I started tracking statistics on this site. Not only is this the highest number in the past 5 years, I even looked back to 2004 and never found another time when we were in the triple digits for days on the market.So, the 3 staples I've preached for years are still there. Price, Condition and Marketing still rule the world of selling homes, but Patience is quickly creating a 4th vital category.**Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Metro Area Neighborhood Garage Sales

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:10:48 -0700

This is apparently one of the BIG weekends for neighborhood garage sales, at least on the north side of the city. Maybe everywhere, I'm not sure, but everywhere I've gone this week, I've seen big signs! Here are the ones I do know about: Cedar Pointe - Santa Fe, between Danforth & Covell Fenwick - NW 164th, between Penn & Western The Greens - N Meridian, between NW 122nd & Memorial Rd Oakmond - NW 150th, between Western & Santa Fe Providence - NW 178th, between Penn & Western Sonoma Lake - NW 164th, between Penn & Western Surrey Hills - Northwest Expressway, West of the Kilpatrick Turnpike The Valley - N Western, between NW 164th & NW 178th Woodvine - NW 164th, between May & Penn View 043011 Garage Sales in a larger mapIf you know of any others, please leave the info in the comments below. I'm sure the hardcore garage-salers out there will greatly appreciate it!**Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

5 States Where Housing Is Predicted to Recover the Quickest

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 03:54:30 -0700

Wondering about the housing market in Oklahoma? Most people around here are these days, but would you have guessed that Oklahoma is among the 5 States Where Housing Is Predicted to Recover the Quickest? Oklahoma. Home prices in the Sooner State fell just 2.3% from peak to trough and mortgage delinquencies are 2.9%. Unemployment is 6.9%. **Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Digital Signatures Celebrated on Earth Day!

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 03:51:34 -0700

If you're here much, you know that I'm a tech junkie and that I love green initiatives, which is why I'm so heavily involved at OKCMAR. Perhaps you've seen my constant (and probably sometimes annoying) push for digital signature legislation over the past couple of years. Whether you have or not, today is an extra-special Earth Day, because up until last week, Oklahoma was the only state in which digital signatures could not be used on real estate contracts. Thanks to some great legislators and a lot of hard work and long hours from many of our local Realtors and affiliates, that's finally changed! If you're wondering what the big deal is, here's how you and the earth will benefit from this legislation: Buying and selling a house in Oklahoma will now be far easier, much more secure, and WAY more efficient than ever before. The amount of paper and ink that will be saved by this measure will be astounding. In my experience, the average real estate transaction uses about 3/4 to 1 full ream of paper (check out how many homes closed in the metro last month). Not to mention, it'll just be cool to sign your contracts on an Ipad, instead of getting writer's cramp putting pen to paper about 75-150 times. No more printing, signing, faxing back, re-printing, copying, etc. In recognition of Earth Day, and to celebrate the passing of Senate Bill 0657, the OKCMAR Green Resource Council is hosting an Earth Day Party at Boldt Construction this evening. Come join us! **Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

History of Oklahoma City Sheraton Hotel

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:33:14 -0700

It's always interesting to hear about the history of our city, especially from those with firsthand experience/knowledge, like Steve Lackmeyer. In a recent article, he highlighted his memories of Oklahoma City's Sheraton Hotel: My sister and I had the run of the hotel that first week of January 1977. We were just kids — our father, Robert, was a partner in the development group that built the hotel and attached retail plaza. **Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Highland Trails - 1098 Skyline Blvd

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:32:51 -0700

[Click Photo to See More]This beautiful home, situated on one of the larger lots in the desirable Highland Trails community of North Edmond, features a standout floorplan with a large private bonus room on the same level as the rest of the home. This room would make a great Theatre Room, Game Room, Living Room, Play Room, or even a large 5th bedroom. GREAT NEWS!! This home may qualify for 100% financing through a USDA program. You owe it to yourself to see this rare find before it's gone. Here are a few more of the highlights: 4 Very Large Bedrooms Large 2nd Living Room (NOT upstairs) 2.5 Well-appointed BathroomsDual Showerheads in Master Suite Large Open Kitchen w/ Beautiful Granite Huge Back Yard w/ Covered Patio (.69 acre lot) Upgraded Hardware & Fixtures Well-maintained Landscaping 3-car GarageWater Softener Additionally, the Highland Trails Community offers: Immaculately-maintained Facilities Baseball/Softball Field Basketball Court Swimming Pool Volleyball Pit Playground Clubhouse Call 405.259.6565 or email us to schedule your private tour.Click here for a printable flyer of this home. NOTE: If this home doesn't fit your needs, we can give you direct access to the most up-to-date listings for this area. Just click here and tell us what you're looking for. It's really that simple.**Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Boeing Begins Construction On New Building In Oklahoma City

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:26:44 -0700

According to News 9, the Boeing Company has begun construction on its new office building in Oklahoma City.As was announced months ago, Boeing is moving several hundred jobs from California to Oklahoma City in an effort to cut operating costs.We here in OKC look forward to welcoming new friends from California, and showing them what Central Oklahoma has to offer.**Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.

Oklahoma City Welcomes Continental Resources

Ryan Hukill - Edmond, Realtor, Team Lead (The Agency Oklahoma | 405home) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:43:34 -0700

Welcoming new people to the Oklahoma City area is nothing new to us, and with several recent announcements of Boeing moving a few divisions to Oklahoma City, we've gotten a lot of practice lately. Everyone knows how much we love showing off our city. To that end, we're thrilled to now get to welcome the employees of Continental Resources who will be relocating from Enid to Oklahoma City, as the company relocates it's corporate headquarters to the current Devon Energy building. “We're expanding rapidly as a leading oil and gas company,” Hamm said. “With our growth plans in the largest oil play in the U.S., the Bakken Shale and the Williston Basin, the timing is right to locate our corporate headquarters in Oklahoma City. “As we look toward the future, Oklahoma City offers a vibrant base to support our aggressive strategy while retaining our strong commitment to the state of Oklahoma.” **Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond.